Heat = whinge

I am writing from Phoenix, Arizona. In mid-July. Need I say more?

Yes, it is miserable. Intolerable. Unbelievable. Who in their right mind decides to live here?

The temperature today was 108 degrees. "It's a dry heat," some say, to put visitors' minds at ease, I guess. But I assure you, a dry 108 degrees still feels like a fiery inferno.

Whinge, whinge, whinge.

A conference for work brings me to Phoenix. Unlike last year's conference in Chicago, when I thoroughly enjoyed my free time strolling around the wonderful Windy City, this year's conference has one theme: Spend as little time outside as possible. So, I am a slave to my air-conditioned room, to the television, and to the laptop, which my boss has generously lent me.

Whinge, whinge, whinge.

This puts OlyWa's 99-degree day on Wednesday in perspective. Our PNW "heatwave" lasted two days this week. And, my fellow Midwest natives, speaking of whinging, you would not believe the storm of complaints that the heat set into motion. With your constant barrage of "hazy, hot and humid" conditions, you would laugh these PNWers out of town.

...Which leads me to wonder, am I unable to tolerate the Phoenix conditions because I have become a soft PNWer? Am I complete wimp? I suspect I already know the answer.